Cartridge or shell for chain shot



July 25, i944.

J. D.l FORBES CARTRIDGE OR SHELL FOR CHIN SHOTS Filed Dec. 11, 193 2 sheets-sheet 1 INVENTOR. JOHN D Foegs ATTORNEY.

July 25, 1944u y J. D. FORBES 2,354,451

CARTRIDGE OR SHELL FOR CHAIN SHOTS Filed Dec. 11, 1959 2 sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY" Patented July 25, 1944 UNITED srrss My invention relates to improvements ina cartridge or shell for chain shot, and it consists of the combinations, constructions and arrangements hereinafter described and claimed.

' An object of my invention is to provide a cartridge or shell for chain shot which is de-V signed to make use of the different types of lchain shot shown in my co-pending application Serial No. 298,259, led October 6, 1939, now-Patent No. 2,322,624, dated June 22, 1943. In the copending case I show chain shot composed of bars connected by links, the bars being foldable into a compact bundlein which the entire interior is a solid mass, giving weight to the projectile. In the present invention, I provide three different types of cartridges or shells for housing the chain shot, all of the three shells being provided With fusible casings. One type of shell has a fusible casing which will melt from the gun blast heat and this will free the chain shot before it leaves the bore. In a second type of shell, a fusible casing is red from the 'gun and is melted by a fuel contained within the casing.

Ymelting of the metal casing enclosing the chain shot. The third type of shell diers slightly from the second. The fusible casing which is :i

red from the gun has a time dial which is used for igniting the fuse and melting the'casingfa predetermined time period after the shell isred. With this shell, the time interval between the Iiring of the shell and the melting of the casing or bullet may be varied. The melting of the casing frees the chain shot. v

Other objects and advantages will appear in the following specification, and the novel features of the device will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims. My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application. in which Figure 1 is a horizontal section of a shell taken along the line l-I of Figure 2;

Figure 2 is a vertical section through Figure 1, a portion being shown in elevation;

Figure 3 is a horizontal section through a modied form of shell and is taken along the line 3-3 of Figure 4; Figure 4 is a vertical section through the'shell shown in Figure 3, a portion being shown in elevation;

Figure 5 is a horizontal section taken along -shot 9 for ring the 4shot through* the air.

ythe vline 5-5 of Figure -,6. and showinganother modified form of the invention;

' Figure 6 isa vertical sect-ion through Figure portions Abeing shownin elevation; 1.

Figure '7 is a detail 4,view of the bar and link filler furthe-shell;4 f

Figure 8 isa planview of a-closure-used inthe device shown in- Figure 6; and

Figure 9 -is a diagrammatic viewlishowing one type 4of link filler or chainyshot entirely ex- ,panded after the fusing of the shell casing.

- vIn carrying out-my invention, -I Will vrst de,-

scribe the cartridge cr-shell A that has -acasing which will melt Whenithe shell -is fired. The shell is shownin.-Figures 1 land 2 and has a base l and a compartment 2 for .receiving a chain shot indicatedV generally:V at 3. The wall 4 of the compartment 2 is made of a fusiblemetal that will melt from the heat created by the firing of the shot. The base I contains a powder 5 which is ignited when the shell is-red and this forces a Wadding and a partition 1 against the chain A disc 8 normally closes the top ofthe compartment2.

In the firing ofv-,Ythis` type ofr shell, the metal casing Il will .melt immediately from the heat generated by. theexploding powder 5. This will free the chain shot v3y and permit it to spread in the manner` shown in Figure 9 and also as shown in my co-pending application. rIhe shot when fully expanded will cover 'a `wide area. The immediate release of the 'chain shot from'the shell permits the device toA be eifectively used lfor short range iiring. Such a shell is` especially adapted for smooth bore grenadeguns.

- It is possiblevto form the metalcasing i out of an alloy that will meltfrom the heat generated by the firing of the shell. For example, an alloy made from two partsof tin, three: parts of lead .andve parts of bismuth will melt at a temperature of 91 C although the melting tem'- perature of the threemetals takeny singly is much higher. Tin melts at 228 C., lead melts at 325 vc. and bismuthfmelts at264 C.k

Another fusible alloy,which could beused in the casing 4 consistsmf; fifteen 4parts bismuth,

'eight parts lead, four partstinandthree parts cadmium. Thefusfing temperature of this alloy will take place` at "5 C. Other-alloys may be used and I have given these two particular alloys merely as examples. y v i In Figures 3 andfl Ishovv a shell B with a removable'fusible casing- [6 .Which-is designed to red from a gunfand then the shell casing,

housing the chain shot, will be melted at a predetermined time interval after the casing I6 leaves the gun. The powder 9 in the base of this shell I is separated from the chain shot II in the compartment I2 by a wadding I3 and a partition I4. A fuse I is disposed in the space between the wadding I3 and the partition I4 and one end I5a of the fuse extends through the waddingffand contacts :with the powder while the other-,end v|512 extends through the partition I4 and into the compartment I2.

The compartment I2 is enclosed by the fusible casing I6 which is made from an alloy that will withstand the heat from the temperature'V created by the ring of the shell, but V`which `will .be L

-afterf'apredetermine'dltime'interval, the Ailarne will reach the end I5b of theffusewhereu'pon *the fuel or powder IIinvthe compartment I2 will be ignited. The burning'of this -fuel will l'createsufficientheatltosmeltthe casing I6 and Y-free'vthechainshot- :'I'I. The'chain shot vI I vwill sprea'dVv in the" samemanner' asthe `chain vshot 3 l'and will 'cover a w-idearea. 'The only difference Y'between'thetwo shells is' the kimmediate freeing fof -the `chain-shot 13 `in-fthe Vgunbarrel when the 'shell -A is lTired, an'd th'e lsubsequent lfreeing of' the chain shot II after the xcasing 'I6 leaves the 'gunupon thef-ring of thefshell B. rIn leach case, Vfthe shellbases'l .fand iIIJ'remain in'the ygun after iii-ing. y

Inthe form off-the vdevice'shown in Figures A5 to v8`inclusi`vefthe materialA for vmelting the casing 'thatleavesrthegunis -ignited by a 'fuse and the fuse in turn is set on're 'a'fter a predetermined "time interval. A`timing dial is used for igniting the fuse and this may be set for any time period desired The cartridge' or shell C shown in Fgrvures I5 and'ha's a base llled'iwith powder I9 :andrthis base remains in thefgun-when'the shell @is frlred.` 'A fusible Ycasing 20 yis removably car- `rieid r'by 'the'base and ajclosure '2| is'secured to lthetop of thefcasing. A central bar`22 extends Ybetween the bottom I'23 ofthefremovable casing and the top'closure "2I so-as'to'transmit all thrust upon the `casing 20, caused -by'the tiring fof rthe shellpdirectly vto a head v24 of-the casing rather than through the medium'o'f a chain shot is composed of a plurality of, bars25a intercom v -nected by links 25h. 'The bars25a, disposed near` est the `central'bar `2 2jare connectedtoY the .closure `2`I by membersiZBcf ThisQtype of removable cas- -ing 2B or bullet is designed to be rotated z.as `it moves through the gun'barrel,,the rotationbeing caused by the riing inr the barrel. The rotation 'of the casing y'will cause the. chain Ashot 275 fto rotate therewith`-becausethe chain shotrisfconnected tothe shellby means of the members 26a and is housed within the casing. When, therefore, the casing or bullet 20 melts, the chain shot will be freed from the casing compartment and will be spreadr due to the centrifugal force created by thesrotating shell and members 26a. The central bar 22 has square portions 22a and 22b received in a square opening 23a in the casing bottom 23 and in a square opening 2 Ia in the .closure2I for causing Mthehead 24 to rotate as -a unitwith the bottom 23 of the casing. The bars 25a may be connected at their ends by the llinks 25h and they will form a spiral pattern somewhat similar to that shown in Figure 9 when fully spread out. vThis pattern will cover a large area; because the bars 25 will all be lying in the same plane.y The bars 25 when expanded will Lnot necessarily form a hexagonal spiral pattern valthough this is shown in Figure 9. The point to keep in mind is that a spiral pattern will be :formed dug-to the rotation of the ybar 2,2. In :actual/practice, aspiral will rform and consist .of -a`number of "cords constituting the bars 25.

It isLpossible to Siillthe removable casingZIl -withva powder 28'and pack this .powder around l --the ,chain shot; lThe-powder will be ignitedby ftheijuse and lwill melt the casing 20 tofiree the chain shot after the bullet or casing 20 leaves the gun 'One type of powderis Thermit. This alloy Yiszcomposed of a mixture of finely divided metallic :,aluminumland one or more oxides, for example, iron. When the ,Thermit is ignited, it will create an-extremely, high temperature due to the result of the union of the aluminum with oxygen taken `from .the oxide. A powder for igniting the Thermit may be ycomposed vlargely of barium .peroxide and aluminum. The ignition powder ,29 is placedbetween a shield 30 andthe closure 2 I :and: the fuse 2'I Vextends down into this powder .,forrigniting it. The powder 29 when ignited by the. fuse, will generate a temperature of.1300 C., -whi-ch is suicient to ignite the Thermit 28 and cause the ,casing 20 to melt. The material formingthe bars 25a is such asto withstand this high temperature. The powder and thek Thermit will complete their burning in approximately one- ;half yaminute. This type of shell is designed for llong range -duty where it is desired to free the chain shot after the shell has been iired into the .air.

The casing or bullet 20 is made from an alloy that will-withstand the firing temperatures of the ishell, vbut which will be melted by the ignited Thermit. The Thermit will burn in an air-tight space and therefore the closure 2| need not be t -provided with openings 2lb when Thermit is used. However, when other types of powder are used, it maybe necessary to permit air to enter the enclosure and I therefore show the closure k2| in Figure 8 provided with openings 2Ib. The fuse 21 passes through one lof these openings. The head 240i the shell can have an opening 3| forfeeding airto the openings 2 Ib.y

In Figure 7 I show a slightly diiferent manner of connecting the central bar 22 to the'adjacent bar 25a` The bar 22has an annular groove 22e for receiving a link 25o that is in turn connected to the `adjacent bar- 25a. The other bars 25a are interconnected bythe links 25h as shown. It is .obvious that the heat generated by the Thermit when ignited, can be controlled and 'this isaelcomplished by changing'the proportions of the .compound Thefspeed of the reaction can also be decreased and a lower maximum temperature yobtained yby alloying'the aluminum withlead or other metals that have a less powerful ainity for oxygen than has aluminum. Thermit cannot be ignited by concussion or hammering because the ignition temperature of 1300` C. is too high. If, therefore, the powder 28 is Thermit, a special powder composed largely of barium oxide and aluminum is used in the manner already described. The fuse 21 will therefore ignite this special powder 29 which in turn will ignite the Thermit 28 and cause the casing 20 to melt.

While I have shown only the preferred forms of my invention, it should be understood that various changes or modifications may be made within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Iclaim:

1. A cartridge having a base for holdin-g powder, a bullet removably carried by the base and having a cylindrical fusible wall, a chain shot disposed within the cylindrical wall and consisting of a plurality of bars linked together, one end of the chain shot being connected to the bullet, said bullet being rotated as it leaves the gun, means for melting the fusible Wall while the bullet is in flight for permitting the chain shot to expand, the rotation of the bullet causing the chain shot to form into a spiral.

2. A cartridge including a bullet with a fusible cylindrical wall that will withstand the temperature created by the firing of the cartridge, a chain shot housed within the cylindrical wall, Thermit disposed around the chain shot, and means for igniting the Thermit for melting the wall.

3. A cartridge including a hollow bullet having a fusible wall, a chain shot disposed within the bullet, Thermit placed in the bullet adjacent said wall, an igniting powder placed with the Thermit, a fuse leading to the igniting powder, and adjustable time-delaying means for setting re to the fuse at the proper time for igniting the powder and Thermit for melting the wal1 for freeing the chain shot.

4. In a device of the type described, an entirely enclosed casing having a continuous cylindrical wall and constituting a missile to be fired froma fire arm, a chain shot entirely housed within the casing, a fuel placed in the casing around the chain shot for 'melting the casing and freeing the chain shot when the fuel is ignited, and delayed fuel igniting means for igniting the fuel a predetermined time period after the oasing leaves the fire arm, whereby the casing is melted and the chain shot is freed.

5. A cartridge having a base for holding powder, an entirely enclosed fusible casing removably carried by the base and constituting a bullet, a chain shot entirely housed Within the casing, a fuel placed in the casing for melting it and freeing the chain shot when the fuel is ignited, and a time fuse having one end contacting with the fuel and the other end contacting with the powder in the base, whereby a firing of the cartridge will ignite the fuse and the fuse will ignite the fuel a given time period after the bullet leaves the gun.

6. A cartridge having a base for holding powder, an entirely enclosed bullet removably secured to the base and comprising a head, a bottom, and a rod connecting the head and bottom together, the bullet closure including a fusible casing lying between the head and bottom, a chain shot placed in the bullet and freed when the fusible casing is melted, the rod communicating the thrust from the bottom of the bullet to the head when the cartridge is fired, delayed means for melting the casing after the bullet has left the gun a predetermined time period, said cartridge being rotated when red, said chain shot being connected to the rod and extendible when the casing is melted to cover a wide area due to the rotation of the rod.

'7. In a cartridge, a bullet having a base, a head, and a rod interconnecting the two for transmitting any thrust from the base to the head and for causing the head to rotate as a unit with the base, a fusible cylindrical wall enclosing the rod, said cartridge being rotated when red, and means for melting the wall a predetermined time period after the bullet leaves the gun for permitting the rotating rod to form the chain shot into a spiral covering a, large two-dimensional area.

JOHN D. FORBES. 

